History of Marvel Refrigeration: 125 Years of Handcrafted Excellence

When you choose Marvel Premium Refrigeration, you’re choosing 125 years of handcrafted quality and leading innovation in the luxury refrigeration business. You’re choosing American products and most importantly, you’re choosing the best undercounter refrigeration technology available on the market.

As the longest-standing refrigeration company in North America, we are proud to have pioneered numerous advancements that helped shape refrigeration technology into what it is today.

Our decorated past began in 1892 in Greenville, Michigan, a beautiful, tightly-knit community where our manufacturing facility is still based today. Here, we created the first foamed-in-place refrigerator, and the first refrigeration of its kind with sleek stainless steel interiors and glass doors. We were also first to adopt a midnight black interior for wine cellars and beverage centers, now a very popular and practical aesthetic.

Our legacy of quality craftsmanship continues to stand strong throughout the centuries, driving the performance the industry has come to expect from Marvel. The extensive Marvel product offering is world class, a dynamic selection of sophisticated, high-performance wine cellars, beverage centers, indoor and outdoor refrigerators, ice machines and beer dispensers.

1892

Ranney Refrigerator is founded in Greenville, Michigan and is soon known for being one of the best-fitted manufacturing plants in the country. It launches with finely made ice boxes to preserve perishables in homes, delivered by horse and buggy.

1893

Ranney files a patent for its exclusive ice rack.

1895

Ranney files a patent for its stop for door lids, the only two-position lid holder.

1899

Ranney grows to be one of the largest manufacturing plants of its kind in Michigan, giving employment to a staff of 300 and producing 40,000 refrigerators. It becomes a growing institution and increases its plant size by 50% for 1900.

1903

The Detroit Free Press publishes, “As to quality and service the Ranney refrigerator has no rival.”

Tragedy strikes when a boiler explodes at the Ranney plant.

1915

Ranney’s Greenville factory is destroyed in a fire and the company resiliently works to rebuild and resume operations for its customers and its employees.

1917

Ranney files a patent for its water cooler design.

1938

Ranney transitions to mechanical refrigeration, and Greenville maintains prominence in the refrigeration industry throughout the 20th Century as the “Refrigerator Capital of the World”.

1941

Ranney signs a contract with The War Department to manufacture air tank shields for World War II.

1945

Ranney is awarded another quota by the War Production Board.

1950

The Pentagon awards Ranney with a $1.145 million contract to furnish the army with refrigerators for military installations in this country and abroad.

1954

Ranney busily works on orders for the defense department. (News article in Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Michigan).

1965

Ranney develops the first foamed-in-place refrigerator to improve operating efficiency and energy conservation.

1970

1978

Gordon Stauffer, then president of Fedders Refrigeration, purchases the company and renames it Northland Refrigeration, and begins staking its position in the marketplace with robust commercial-style refrigeration for home use.

1970s

Northland begins manufacturing premium commercial-grade refrigeration for home use, and quickly becomes known for its high storage capacity.

2008

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announces Northland-Marvel will invest $10.2 million in a new 175,000 square-foot manufacturing and innovation center in Greenville. The expansion is expected to create 337 new Michigan jobs, including 157 directly by the company.

2012

Marvel introduces the Marvel Professional line in response to the growing trend toward pro-style kitchens.

2013

Marvel is named the #1 rated wine cellar by a leading consumer magazine.

Marvel introduces the first glass door refrigerator with blue LED interior lighting.

2014

Marvel unveils the industry’s leading line of ENERGY STAR® certified undercounter products.

2015

2016

Marvel releases the first outdoor model that combines a refrigerator, freezer and ice maker in one compact 24” footprint.

The Middleby Corporation acquires AGA Marvel.

Marvel releases its next generation of full size built-in refrigeration.

2017

Marvel upgrades its professional collection with bolder aesthetics and features to add more storage versatility and organization. New features include tri-color lighting, midnight black interiors, smooth ball-bearing glides, split convertible shelving, and complementary organizational accessories (in select models).

FROM THE TIME CAPSULE

Ranney handcrafted three distinct refrigeration lines with over one hundred styles: the “Lapland” of solid oak, the “Monitor” of solid ash, and the “Mascot” of other hard woods.

Constructed with scientific principles of preservation and beautifully finished natural wood, Ranney earns a reputation for being the best refrigerators the world over, and works of art.

FROM THE TIME CAPSULE

Ranney also operated its own saw mills and stocked over four million feet of lumber throughout the year. It also ran a train of 40 cars, three railroad lines and also had direct connection with the lake ports.

THIS YEAR IN HISTORY

Grover Cleveland is inaugurated a second time and is the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms.

THIS YEAR IN HISTORY

Gold is discovered in the Yukon’s Klondike.

THIS YEAR IN HISTORY

This year also marks the First World Series for baseball. And, the Wright brothers make the first controlled, sustained flight in heavier-than-air aircraft.

AGA Ranges

Marvel

Heartland

Scientific

Corporate Info

Disclaimer
The information presented herein is based on the best data available and is believed to be correct. However, nothing stated herein is to be taken as warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy of the information or the use of our product or products. Products might not appear exactly as shown in images. Specifications and product aesthetics are subject to change without notice. Please contact Customer Service at 800-223-3900 to confirm product availability and specifications.